In the small town where I live, we have a parade and picnic called "The Last Fling of Summer." It is held on Labor Day Weekend and everybody enjoys the last "fling" of fun and games outside before the school year starts. This year was no exception. Barney and Danny and their cousin, Gina, and I went to the big parade and picnic. "What's your favorite thing about the 'last fling'?" I asked as we were cleaning up the remains of our meal of hot dogs, corn on the cob, fruit salad and carrot cake.
 

"The parade," Barney said. "This year I saw my teacher riding on the fire engine!"

His younger brother disagreed. "The food!" Danny said. (For those of you who don't know Danny, his thoughts are seldom far from food.)

"I think the best thing will be the rides," Gina said excitedly. "I can't wait to ride the Ferris Wheel. I was a little afraid last year, but now that I am going to be in kindergarten, I'm not afraid at all!"

"Well I am!" I said, "I don't like heights!"
 

"It's not a very big Ferris Wheel," teased Danny. "There are only 8 chairs on the wheel."

"Yes, and I see that three people can sit on each chair, so all of you can ride on the same seat and I can stay safely on the ground and wave as you go around!" I said, laughing.

When we got nearer the Ferris Wheel, we saw that there was a long line. "I wonder if we will get on the wheel on the next turn," Gina wondered aloud.
 

Barney looked at the line, and thought a minute. Then he said "Hey, its time for the first math challenge of the school year! Danny, I'll bet you and Gina can figure out whether you will get a turn on the next 'go round'."

"Cinchy!" said Danny. "Gina, you go count how many are in line ahead of us and come back and tell me."
 

Gina ran off to do just that, and in a few minutes she was back. "It's a real lot!" she moaned. "I counted two times, just to be sure---and there are 20 people ahead of us!" Well, what do you think? Do you have enough information to solve the challenge? Will Danny, his brother, Barney, and his cousin, Gina, ride on the next turn?

Love,
Aunt Mathilda
"Aunty Math"